Senate Resolution 43

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SISTER ELIZABETH BROWN OF OKOLONA, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HER RECEIPT OF THE 2003 GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE FOR VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE (GIVE) AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT.

WHEREAS, Sister Elizabeth Brown, credited for rebuilding a congregation in Okolona, Mississippi, has been recognized for her work by receiving the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, at the 2003 Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service established the Awards in 1993 to recognize the "power of volunteers" and the difference they provide to their communities; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, Elizabeth Brown known as Sister Liz, joined St. Theresa Catholic Church in Okolona, Mississippi, a Chickasaw County city of about 3,000 residents. She knitted together a broad coalition of community support, building up a congregation that was on the decline in a community divided; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth Brown bridges age and race, she engages literally hundreds of people every year in responding to community needs; and

WHEREAS, for example, when there was need for a new community center, Brown galvanized the community, resulting in commitments from volunteers to refurbish the old Miskelly Furniture site. Brown was in the thick of construction, hammering nails, hanging sheetrock and pouring concrete. The center now houses EXCEL Inc., or Enrichment and Excellence through Community Educational Leadership, a nonprofit service organization which provides programming for the young and old, also led by volunteers; and

WHEREAS, she has a strong belief that a community can solve its challenges if people work together, working together across economic, racial and religious lines; and

WHEREAS, this award by the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service recognizes volunteers who give every other day of the year and quietly make our world better; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this citizen who believes that a community can solve its challenges if people work together, and has thereby brought honor to her community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Sister Elizabeth Brown of Okolona, Mississippi, upon her receipt of the 2003 Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Award in the Category of Lifetime Achievement, and extend to her and her family and co-volunteers the best wishes of the Senate on her future public service projects and endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the Commission on Volunteer Service for presentation to Sister Brown and her family and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.